Day 638 My Feathered Friends

 

After a wonderful dinner with Tory, I came home to find Tim in the backyard watching two of the new chicks roaming free. They were exploring the yard and nibbling on grass and whatever bugs they could find, while the caged chickens watched through wire eager to join them. Tim likes to bring out one or two chickens at a time, the frantic caged girls don't trouble him. I can't watch the desperation and ignore it so the door was flung open and the entire flock streamed out into the yard for an evening of fun. It was a great opportunity to mix the new chicks in with the flock, the green grass and bugs great distractions from the new girls. The introduction went as good as we could have hoped for, most of the older chickens went about their business and weren't interested in the new chicks. Of course there's always one bully in the mix and she immediately jumped on top of one of the new chicks the pin her down and prove her dominance. The new chicks have speed on their side, they are so quick they can get out of trouble in a flash and now realize they will need to use that speed. Pep lounged in the yard among the grazing chickens as if she were watching over them like a sheepdog watching its heard. Tim and I love our evening in the backyard, sitting together and watching our girls, our little slice of heaven. Once the sun goes down, all the chickens return to their coop to roost, so there's no need to chase them back inside. We'll be keeping an eye on the newly mixed flock, making sure the bully doesn't become overly aggressive with the little ones and enjoying the endless entertainment they provide. There's always a bit of jockeying for position, the pecking order is a real thing and important to their social order, therefore, some hen pecking has to be tolerated. Who knows, one of the new girls might just grow up to be at the top of the pecking order, that's how life goes. Now that the weather has finally warmed up a bit Tim and I will be spending many more evenings in the backyard, enjoying our evening wind down with our beautiful flock of feathered friends. Isn't it wonderful when you're exactly where you want to be in the world?